Star Wars video games have been quite mixed for some time now. It has been probably a decade since we got one that was loved by fans almost universally, EA has fumbled multiple times causing upset from fans, gamers, and reportedly even Disney themselves.
With EA as the sole distributor of the Star Wars license until the early 2020s, we’re stuck with them. In their time with the license, they’ve released two Star Wars games, both Battlefront titles which upset fans and critics alike, and canceled several others that showed much promise. This year, they’ll release Respawn’s Jedi: Fallen Order which sounds like the narrative-driven game set in a Galaxy Far, Far Away that everyone wants but only time will tell.
It looks as if Disney will be making an effort to keep EA (or whoever will hold the license in the future) in check by resurrecting Lucasfilm Games with new job openings and ensuring they are delivering quality products under the Lucasfilm IP. PC Gamer noted that the listing says they’re looking for people who will help “build the next great set of Star Wars and Lucasfilm heritage products” with developers and “managing the review and approval of interactive products that incorporate Lucasfilm IP, such as Star Wars film and television properties”.
These job listings are exclusive to roles like producers, marketing coordinator, and so forth as opposed to programmers and developers, so don’t expect games to come directly from this team as of right now. There was a time in 2017 where Disney was looking for folks to fill those positions but it’s unclear if those plans have been shuttered for the time being.
We obviously have no idea if Disney plans to continue to extend their deal with EA once it expires but it looks like they’re taking a much more serious, hands-on approach to protect their brands. Could this be a sign of things turning around for Star Wars games? Very possible! We’ll be sure to keep you posted as we find out more. Until then you can expect Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order to get its official unveiling in April.
